HOTEL DIVORCES,

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19664, 26 August 1935, Page 9

HOTEL DIVORCES,

TOO MANY IN ENGLAND. STEADILY INCREASING NUMBER. Alarmed by the steadily Increasing number of divorces In Britain, the authorities are determined to end some of the abuses in divorce procedure. The steadily increasing lists in the Divorce Division, and the ever-ac-cumulating arrears, have been the subject of anxious official investigation, says a London correspondent under date July 27. At -the beginning of the present sittings, there were awaiting disposal in the Law Courts 90S undefended suits, compared with 523 at the same time last, year; in addition, there are large numbers to be dealt with by the judges at assizes. A divorce agent, for substantial reward, makes all the necessary arrangements for some divorces. On the instructions of the prospective petitioner and respondent, iie provides Ihe corespondent and tho appropriate "evidence.” The case appears in the undefended list, and within the space of HO seconds a decree nisi Is pronounced.

This tendency towards ease in obtaining divorce provoked the Lord Chief Justice, on circuit recently, to observe Jocularly that perhaps the time was shortly to come when one might slip a coin in a slot and out would come a decree! Henceforlh, the tendency will hr in the other direction. A more detailed examination will he made of what is called "hold evidence," and it never will be known on which cases the judges will ‘ pounce." for a strict investigation.